Sanya (Hainan), China

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Nicknamed the “Hawaii of China” for its tropical climate and famous sandy beaches, Sanya is situated on the southernmost tip of Hainan Island. With warm temperatures all year round and a pristine coastline with well-known resort areas such as Sanya Bay, Dadonghai Bay and the exclusive Yalong Bay with its luxury hotels, the city is not surprisingly popular with locals and international visitors alike. In fact, Sanya and Hainan are so popular that more than one manmade landmass has been constructed, including the new Phoenix Island and its curved towers, connected to Sanya by a bridge only hotel guests can cross.In addition to a plethora of water sports to be enjoyed, Sanya’s vibrant city center offers local culinary experiences (especially seafood), from high-end restaurants to roadside stalls, and shopping and entertainment; travel just outside the city for a host of natural and cultural sights. The state-run Nanwan Monkey Island has 2,000 macaques, as well as birds and native plants, and the Nanshan Buddhist Culture Park's most famous attraction, the 108-meter (354-foot), three-sided Guanyin statue, is taller than the Statue of Liberty.